Day 26 – Organized Christmas: Wrap Up

This is Day 26 of our 31 Days To An Organized Christmas. To read all the posts in order, start with this post, then visit the Landing Page to see the outline for the whole series.

Assignments:

• Read Wrap-Up (page 113) in Get Yourself Organized for Christmas.
• Celebrate with your Organized Christmas buddy.

Some Thoughts:

And….that’s a wrap! You did it! Although there are certainly things you will need to prepare as Christmas approaches, you are now more organized so you won’t stress out. When it comes time for that next holiday party, you have your plan and you are ready to go! Way to go!

I have to just say it: I’m proud of you. What an accomplishment! – Get Yourself Organized for Christmas

Come back on December 26th for five Christmas Put Away projects.

How do you feel after completing the 21 days of projects?

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Day 25 – Organized Christmas: Your Personalized Special Project

This is Day 25 of our 31 Days To An Organized Christmas. To read all the posts in order, start with this post, then visit the Landing Page to see the outline for the whole series.

Assignments:

• Read Project 21: Your Personalized Special Project (pages 110-112) in Get Yourself Organized for Christmas.
• Check in with your Organized Christmas buddy.
• Choose something you have put off doing, but have always wanted to do for Christmas. Do it.

Some Thoughts:

In the midst of the holiday hustle and bustle, if there is something you have always wanted to do, this is your day. Look back at that traditions list you made, and think hard on something you left off because you didn’t think you would have time. Make a little time to make it happen today. Get Yourself Organized for Christmas will give some ideas of special project you could do. If there’s absolutely nothing you can think of, sit back and relax because you are all ready for Christmas! Yay!

Think of your own special task that you have wanted to do for years but have never had time for. Today is your day to do that thing. – Get Yourself Organized for Christmas

What special task have you wanted to do for years but have never had time for?

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Day 24 – Organized Christmas: Tablecloths, Napkins, and Foof, Oh My

This is Day 24 of our 31 Days To An Organized Christmas. To read all the posts in order, start with this post, then visit the Landing Page to see the outline for the whole series.

Assignments:

• Read Project 20: Tablecloths, Napkins, and Foof, Oh My (pages 106-108) in Get Yourself Organized for Christmas.
• Check in with your Organized Christmas buddy.
• Find your tableware. Depending on what day you are doing this project, you can make sure things are clean and set out.

Some Thoughts:

Ready, set, and go!

All you have to do is find all the stuff you need for your table setting right now so you have one less thing to fuss with on Christmas Day. – Get Yourself Organized for Christmas

Do you host formal Christmas dinners with fancy dishes, or are you more of a paper plate kinda host/ess?

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Day 23 – Organized Christmas: Take Off Your Apron and Grab Your Pencil

This is Day 23 of our 31 Days To An Organized Christmas. To read all the posts in order, start with this post, then visit the Landing Page to see the outline for the whole series.

Assignments:

• Read Project 19: Take Off Your Apron and Grab Your Pencil (pages 102-105) in Get Yourself Organized for Christmas.
• Check in with your Organized Christmas buddy.
• Plan for meals the weeks before (and even after) Christmas.
• Make two shopping lists (nonperishables and perishables).
• Buy what you can now. You don’t want to get stuck in that line with the holiday crowd!

Some Thoughts:

Since we typically do not host, I don’t have much to plan for this, but we do bring one or two items, so I do have to do some planning. Again, check the book for some amazing tips because I hear Christmas dinner at Kathi’s house is awesome!

I know some friends who are great at doing the freezer meals. If that’s not your jam, you can plan to make a double portion of one meal to be eaten twice during the week/month depending on what it is and if that can be frozen or whatnot. Refer to your calendar once again to see how many meals you will actually be eating at home certain weeks.

Our favorite tool for meal planning is Plan to Eat. LOVE IT! We have been using it for 2 years now, and I am thankful for it every time 5PM rolls around. There is a Black Friday sale happening November 27 – November 30. Grab your 30-day trial now, try it out, and get a yearly subscription for 50% off during the Black Friday Weekend.
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Plan on making at least two LOOP meals a week. Cook twice, eat four times. – Get Yourself Organized for Christmas

What do meals look like around the Christmastime at your house? Lots of leftovers? Eating out?

 

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Day 22 – Organized Christmas: Get Online

This is Day 22 of our 31 Days To An Organized Christmas. To read all the posts in order, start with this post, then visit the Landing Page to see the outline for the whole series.

Assignments:

• Read Project 18: Get Online (pages 99-101) in Get Yourself Organized for Christmas.
• Check in with your Organized Christmas buddy.
• Finish up your last minute shopping.

Some Thoughts:

While I’m not the biggest fan of shopping, the convenience of online shopping helps to curb some of those negative feelings. :p It is so much easier to send out gifts directly from the comforts of your pajamas. Make sure to do a search to see if there are deals or coupon codes for the items you are planning to buy. And for all of your online shopping, make sure to go through ebates if you can! Depending on how much you spend, your Big Fat Check (it’s what they call the cash back check they send you) may not be too big, but it still surprises the bank teller every time I make a deposit.

Amazon.com is a good place to find a good deal, especially if you have Prime. I’m all about not having to pay those shipping fees. Target REDcard is also pretty awesome. And I’m sure there is a long list of deal sites that are helpful. Remember to not get lost in the shuffle of finding the deals or becoming overwhelming or going off on rabbit trails by clicking random links…you get the picture. :p Refer back to your gift list to help you stay on track and get the project done!

I’m way less cranky at the end of the day when I don’t have to stand in line at the mall or the post office. – Get Yourself Organized for Christmas

Where are some places you like to go for online shopping and deals?

 

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Day 21 – Organized Christmas: Ship Those Boxes Out

This is Day 21 of our 31 Days To An Organized Christmas. To read all the posts in order, start with this post, then visit the Landing Page to see the outline for the whole series.

Assignments:

• Read Project 17: Ship Those Boxes Out (pages 96-98) in Get Yourself Organized for Christmas.
• Check in with your Organized Christmas buddy.
• Ship those boxes out! 😉

Some Thoughts:

I don’t do too much shipping of packages, but I have stood in that post office line many a-times. Make sure to read the book to see how to avoid the post office this holiday season. You can also do this other times of the year as well.

I’m not one to cry in public, but the post office at Christmastime is enough to make a grown woman weep…There is a better way, ladies. – Get Yourself Organized for Christmas

How do you like to send gift out?

 

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Day 20 – Organized Christmas: Refresh Yourself

This is Day 20 of our 31 Days To An Organized Christmas. To read all the posts in order, start with this post, then visit the Landing Page to see the outline for the whole series.

Assignments:

• Read Project 16: Refresh Yourself (pages 92-94) in Get Yourself Organized for Christmas.
• Tell your Organized Christmas buddy to “Take a break!”

Some Thoughts:

RELAX!

We all need a break this time of year. – Get Yourself Organized for Christmas

How do you find refreshment in the midst of a full schedule?

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Day 19 – Organized Christmas: Get Those Stockings Ready

This is Day 19 of our 31 Days To An Organized Christmas. To read all the posts in order, start with this post, then visit the Landing Page to see the outline for the whole series.

Assignments:

• Read Project 15: Get Those Stockings Ready (pages 88-91) in Get Yourself Organized for Christmas.
• Check in with your Organized Christmas buddy.
• Stuff those stockings!

Some Thoughts:

We never did stockings when we were kids, so it hasn’t been on our radar. The girls did enjoy learning the legend of the stocking when we watched some Christmas shows…I think it is in Saint Nicholas: A Story of Joyful Giving and Buck Denver Asks…Why Do We Call It Christmas?. We won’t have stockings this year either, but maybe in the future… here’s a cute one I found on Dayspring:

When thinking about stocking stuffers, buy things that are small and will be loved and used. Keep it practical, useful, and fun. – Get Yourself Organized for Christmas

Once again, make sure to read the book for some quick tips from Kathi!

Is hanging up stockings a tradition at your house? What are your favorite stuffers?

 

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Day 18 – Organized Christmas: Prep Your Kitchen

This is Day 18 of our 31 Days To An Organized Christmas. To read all the posts in order, start with this post, then visit the Landing Page to see the outline for the whole series.

Assignments:

• Read Project 14: Prep Your Kitchen (pages 83-87) in Get Yourself Organized for Christmas.
• Check in with your Organized Christmas buddy.
• You may need to schedule a day for this if today is not a good day.
  • Clean out refrigerators and cupboards. Take note of what you need or don’t need for holiday baking and cooking
  • Schedule a day closer to when guests will arrive to do a good cleaning of the stovetop and countertops.
  • Find your serving dishes, if you have any.
  • Make a meal plan for the month. Refer back to the Calendar and Recipes.

Some Thoughts:

I do know some Martha Stewart types, but if you’re like most humans 😉 , it will probably be a better idea to let guests contribute to the holiday meal(s). I know I enjoy the surprise of seeing what everyone brings to the potluck. This project is crucial for a comfy gathering since most people like to hang out in the kitchen or wherever the food will be!

There are lots of fantastic tips are in the book, but this tip is a really great one!

I ask each family member this one simple question: What is the one dish that you must have for Christmas? – Get Yourself Organized for Christmas

You don’t have to know how to make it all…just find out what one thing each person loves. When it comes time to gather all the ingredients, you will know what you have or need, and when it is all cooked/baked, there is space to set it out! 🙂

How did you feel after clearing out and cleaning out some of your kitchen space to be made ready for the holidays? What tips do you have?

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Day 17 – Organized Christmas: Decor Day

This is Day 17 of our 31 Days To An Organized Christmas. To read all the posts in order, start with this post, then visit the Landing Page to see the outline for the whole series.

Assignments:

• Read Project 13: Decor Day (pages 77-80) in Get Yourself Organized for Christmas.
• Check in with your Organized Christmas buddy.
• Depending on when you do this project, you have a few options. 🙂
  • Locate your Christmas decorations.
  • Gather your Christmas decorations.
  • Schedule when you will put up your Christmas decorations.
  • Take out your Christmas decorations.

Some Thoughts:

For this project, here are some printables from Life Your Way that are useful:

• Decor Inventory
• Decor Storage
• Ornament Journal

We are a put-up-your-tree-after-Thanksgiving people, so that is what you will find us doing the weekend after we enjoy a meal with family and/or friends. It wasn’t until about 3 years ago when we started to put up Christmas decorations. Little ones (ours or our friends’) and holiday decor do not mix. We kept it simple with a few things on our kitchen island and a garland or two. But for the past few years we have bought a few things here and there during Black Friday and After Christmas sales. We spend one day doing the interior decorations and another day doing the exterior lights. We invite our family over, crank up the holiday tunes, and go, go, go!

The girls’ favorite part is hanging up the ornaments since we buy one from each place we visit on our vacation each year. There are some they have made through the years as well. Lots of great memories!

One year, this is all we had were the Christmas cards we received, and then we added some books to the mix another year.

Crafts and such make good decorations as well:

We had a “Dollar Tree Christmas“:

Then we added solar lights and decor.

A wreath from Dayspring:

We got an artificial tree – it can switch to white lights or multi-color lights…and the lights do not need to be strung on the tree!

When we didn’t have a tree, we helped others decorate their tree.

When we didn’t have decorations, we enjoyed (and we still do!!) seeing other people’s decorations!

Decorations at churches are amazing too!

Soooo…all this to show and tell you that there isn’t just one way to “do” Christmas. We are more than halfway through these projects, and I’ve been learning Christmas isn’t a one-size-fits-all. Revisit your holiday mission statement if you need to, and make it work for you and your family. 🙂

Do you feel a time crunch every Christmas? If so, I strongly recommend that you not only make some accommodations this year, but take a hard look at your own expectations for the holiday season. – Get Yourself Organized for Christmas

Are you more of an interior or exterior decorator when it comes to Christmas decorations?

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